RPGR90s

Try driving a 70's era Cutlass with a Hurst 4 speed. Awful, noisy, and don't even try to shift into reverse.
My C5 shifts like the Hawaiian breeze by comparison. Predictable and smooth.

RED-85-Z51

I learned to drive manual driving my 03Z home with an MGW shifter...ive never missed a gear to this day 3yrs later...its firm, crisp, and always finds the right gear. Amsoil atd made it even better.

Supercharged111

Not the first time this one has come back from the grave I see.

LSgoBRRR

I did the MGW shortthrow and its very tight and totally changes the shifting character. The install video was very detailed and they even include an alignment plate now. You will need to modify both the rubber boot and leather boot cover (for the latter I just cut the threads and folded it back so I can always restitch it, not that I will)

Unlike the Hurst it replaces the lower assembly as well and unlike the C6 it doesn't need to be cut down to not sit stupidly tall.

However the short throw means that the transmission provides more resistance than necessary. So you need to add 'anti-venom' washers to the transmission (which I'm doing along with a 'skipshift delete dongle' while the car is in the air). Until you do that it will feel like a gated shifter crossed with a tractor, very precise but needing of a firm hand.

I also had an early Miata and the short throw makes it pretty reminsent (in throw at least), The miata was only a 5 speed though so it only needed the one reverse/5th detent and the Vette is a 6 speed so it took a little longer to be very confident I was selecting 5th and not 3rd. If anything the MGW is tighter/notchy-er but its a lot less broken in and its hard to compare to a car I owned 20 years ago when back when my C5 was a baby.

The stock box is pretty damn mushy, I got used to it and was able to drive it fine but I don't regret getting the MGW and it was a fun install compared to rusty manifolds, o2 sensors and GM electrical clips... if you don't include taking out the console (that actually kinda sucked mainly due to the damn TCS connecter).

helga203

I have to put my .02cents. He didnt understand evert time he went to trans place. The tech new right away what the problem was. IT WAS THE NUT BEHIND THE WHEEL. He just didn't get it. He never figured it out and sold the car.

radar502

My 04 Z lot's HP had Callaway shifter would just at the wrong time lock up under hard acceleration read all the fixes got better but still at times but no at just the wrong time locked up let off the gas keep pressure on the shifter then will shift. it's a C-5 thing ..

minuteman048

Have a 2001 C5 6-Speed and found it to be one of the best shifting cars I ever owned.

ztheusa

I loved my 2001 Z06...................including the shifter. I've owned at least 10 Corvettes or muscle cars that were stick shift.

Maybe................learn to shift?

joefriday

corvettes, being performance cars, just have transmissions that make audible clunks and rattles with normal operation, and to those used to driving mundane sedans, it can be off putting at first. in order to have the capacity to handle all that torque, they are built beefy, and will not sound or feel like a slippery synchro mazda transmission with a 130lb torque capacity. there are trade offs. In fact, the C5 with torque tube and all is still quieter than the ZF in my 90 C4, which sounds like a rock tumbler while idling in neutral.

jjc508520

Was waiting for someone to mention this before throwing it up myself....